Third place in the BBL, third place in the EuroCup. Shortly before Christmas, the people of Ulm are on target. Recently there was a small dip against Heidelberg with a 19-point half, but the team showed the right reaction internationally against the BC Wolves and after twelve of 18 games still has the chance of qualifying directly for the quarter-finals in the EuroCup.
It seems that the 2023 champions are once again managing the balancing act of fielding a top German team and at the same time acting as an international talent factory. In Ben Saraf (18) and Noa Essengue (18), the Ulm team have two teenagers in their rotation who want to take on important roles and at the same time make a name for themselves in the NBA. In ESPN’s current mock draft, the two are ranked 14th and 17th respectively.
“What the two of them are doing is impressive,” said national player Nelson Weidemann basketball-world.news. This can definitely lead to friction. Showcasing young players and being successful is not always the best symbiosis. But it works in Ulm, which is also due to the two of them themselves.
Saraf: Ulm is better with him
“They don’t let it slide and are down-to-earth guys. That makes working together very pleasant.” Both are convincing on the field. Although Saraf currently only comes off the bench, he still plays 23 minutes per game and records 12.7 points and 4.1 assists on average. It is not uncommon for him to be the one who makes decisions in critical phases or even simply takes over games.
In the EuroCup, Ulm is a good five points per 100 ball possessions better with Saraf on the field than without him, and in the BBL it is even ten points – despite the lack of efficiency.
“You don’t notice when things aren’t going well,” says Weidemann. Instead, the Israeli already has a maturity that few at this age display. “Even if Ben had reached the top of his development curve now, he is still an excellent player at the highest level,” Weidemann continued.
Of course not everything is perfect, but Saraf already seems very ripped off in his actions, produces few ball losses and finds ways to create for himself. The three-pointer remains shaky, but his shots from the middle distance have to be respected; this shot will always be there for the U-18 European Championship MVP.
Will Saraf fit in the NBA? Opinions differ on this, even if the Israeli has already shown significantly more than Killian Hayes four years ago. Saraf is a good but not a great athlete, his somewhat unorthodox style is difficult to grasp, so it’s not entirely clear in which role Saraf could thrive.
“Noa can do things that no one can teach you”
Such question marks also exist with Essengue, who only came of age a few days ago. Last year the Frenchman was able to get a taste of 16 competitive games, and now the forward is on the field for 22 minutes per game and draws the second most free throws in the entire EuroCup (76 in twelve games).
Essengue stands out in every game with his length and elegance. The Frenchman also has a nose for offensive rebounds and, despite his slight body, does not shy away from contact. “Noa can do things that no one can teach you,” says Weidemann. “I mean feel for the game, timing, wit, athleticism, body length. If he adds a few more pounds, he’ll be a real problem.”
This is already the case at European level, but at the same time you don’t have to have much imagination to see the 18-year-old as a future NBA player. Essengue makes plays in defense, can attack from the wing and, at 2.05 meters (at least that’s how he is listed by Ulm), has guard height for one of the forward positions.
Weidemann: “You are special”
What will possibly decide his future is the question of how well the threes will fall. They fell in the Portland game, but over the season they’re down to 31 percent on just 1.9 attempts per game. At the same time, both Saraf and Essengue are enjoying more playing time at a high level than almost any other player in the upcoming draft class.
“They are special, but they don’t let you know it,” Weidemann sums it up to emphasize once again. “That’s most important with such talented players. They know that in a few years they will be earning millions of dollars. But the fact that they are so down-to-earth, work hard and have such good character is what makes them special.”
